GEOGRAPHY

Since I performed most of the recordings in a particular geographic area, corresponding to the South West part of Toscana - a central Italy region - in this page I try to show in detail the localization and geographic characteristics of this area. Fig. 1 and 2 below shows the position of the study area relative to Europe and Italy.

Clik here to get more details about the boundaries of the studied area.

Clik here to get a rainfall map. (Bibliography 13)

Clik here to get a general altitude profile. (Bibliography 13)

Clik here to get a general description of vegetation.

Analyzing in detail the vegetation cover, we realize that Maquis is abundant on the rocky coast and inside with altitudes more than 100 and less than 600 m., while garigue and bushy Maquis are more widespread all over the study zone (see maps).
Oak woods (the woods where Oaks trees are more than 40% and no other specie is more than 20%) are the most abundant in our study zone, particularly those with Quercus cerris. Quercus ilex woods are found mainly near the coast and in the first hills coming from the sea, while Q. cerris and Q. pubescens woods are not found close to the coast; they live inside the territory also near the Amiata mountain (see maps). Other trees mixed with oaks in these kind of woods are Flowering ashes (Fraxinus ornus), Maples (Acer sp.) and Rhamnus sp.
Chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Beach (Fagus silvatica) woods are less abundant and confined to the inner zone of Amiata Mountain (check maps). These woods are generally less "mixed" than oak woods, consisting almost only of the prevalent tree specie.
There are two completely different kinds of pine woods: those with Pinus pinea are abundant along the coast and in Giglio island, but are also found inside, while those with Pinus nigra are found only near the Amiata zone.
All data about vegetation cover are drawn from Bibliography 14